Nkunku and Leipzig celebrate in Hoffenheim

Hoffenheim 1-3 RB Leipzig
Goals: 0-1 Nkunku 17', 1-1 Rutter 50' (assist: Angelino), 1-2 Nkunku 57', 1-3 Olmo 69' (assist: Szoboszlai)

Hoffenheim's attempts to improve on a record of just one win in six previous games wasn't helped when Grischa Prömel was forced out of the contest with an injury early on. Things got even worse for Andre Breitenreiter's side as the half progressed. Having registered his 14th goal of the campaign in all competitions during Leipzig's UEFA Champions League win against Shakhtar Donetsk during the week, Nkunku brought his Bundesliga tally up to 10 with a cleverly hit free-kick that beat goalkeeper Oliver Baumann at his near post. Georginio Rutter brought a superb save from Janis Blaswich as the Sinsheimers chased parity, but they were relieved to go in at the break only a goal behind after Dani Olmo's shot into the top corner had Nkunku inches offside in the build-up.

Desperate to keep Leipzig in sight in the standings - Die Roten Bullen were a point and a place ahead of the hosts going into this Matchday 13 encounter - Hoffenheim upped their game after the restart. Their efforts were rewarded when Rutter met Leipzig loanee Angelino's superb pass with a header into the corner. The celebrations inside the Rhein-Neckar-Arena were soon coming from the away end, however. Baumann brilliantly parried an Olmo shot out to his left and was quickly on his feet again to swipe at Andre Silva's flighted pass into the centre. The keeper's touch only took the ball as far as Nkunku and the Frenchman needed no second invite, controlling on his thigh before slamming in his second of the game. A swift counter-attack brought more joy for Leipzig thereafter. Dominik Szoboszlai found the lively Olmo, who capped a fine personal performance with a bullet high into the net, his first goal in the Bundesliga this season.

• Leipzig ended a run of eight away Bundesliga matches without a win.
• Rose's side are unbeaten in 11 competitive games, winning four of six in the Bundesliga.
• Nkunku has scored a Bundesliga-leading 24 goals in 2022. He has now surpassed the Leipzig club record, previously held by Timo Werner, for most goals in a calendar year.
• Rutter was Hoffenheim's top goalscorer last season and hit his second of the current campaign here.
• Angelino made 68 Bundesliga appearances for parent club Leipzig. He made his second assist for Hoffenheim this season.
• As many as three of Dani Olmo's 12 Bundesliga goals have been scored against Hoffenheim.

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Hoffenheim: Baumann (c) – Akpoguma (Quaresma 80'), Vogt, Nsoki – Skov (Kaderabek 67'), Prömel (Kramaric 18'), Geiger (Asllani 80'), Baumgartner, Angelino – Bruun Larsen (Stiller 67'), Rutter
Unused subs: Pentke, Quarshie, Rudy, Becker
Out: Bebou (knee), Bicakcic (fitness), Dabbur (shoulder), Hübner (ankle), Kabak (suspended), Philipp (finger)
Coach: Andre Breitenreiter

Leipzig: Blaswich – Gvardiol, Orban, Diallo – Raum, Olmo (Kampl 75'), Schlager, Halstenberg (Ba 90'+3) – Szoboszlai (Novoa 88'), Silva (Forsberg 76'), Nkunku (Poulsen 88')
Unused subs: Nyland, Haidara
Out: Gulacsi (knee), Henrichs (suspended), Klostermann (ankle), Laimer (ankle), Werner (ankle)
Coach: Marco Rose